Ex-APCC president Srinivas quits party; to join TRS

In a setback to Congress in Telangana, former state unit president D Srinivas today quit the party and announced his decision join ruling TRS holding it would suit him serve the state better.
Srinivas said it was a "painful decision" to leave the party he has served for long and will continue to have great respect for Congress chief Sonia Gandhi but took potshots at AICC general secretary Digivijay Singh, in charge of party affairs in the state.
Srinivas, a former minister in undivided Andhra Pradesh, said he is joining TRS to work for realising the goal of a 'golden Telangana'.

Srinivas, who had already discussed his plans with TRS President and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, said he is not hankering after any party post or government position.
Srinivas said he always got respect from Sonia Gandhi and he would continue to have great respect for her.
"My wish is to see that the state develops as per the commitment (given by the TRS government) and that the weaker sections are empowered. I would like to contribute my bit for that. Definitely, this is a painful day for me. This is an unexpected development for me," he said.

Srinivas, however, took potshots at Digvijay Singh. Reacting to Singh's reported comment that Srinivas's move to quit Congress is 'opportunism', he said "I had a great opinion about him (Digvijay Singh) earlier but disappointed to see his statement in newspapers...Singh lent his ear to those who carried various things to him."

Hailing from Nizamabad district, Srinvias has for decades been a Congress worker.
He has served as Pradesh Congress Committee president when the party came to power in undivided AP under the leadership of late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy in 2004.